Bbick-machiete



2 SheetsSheet 1.

W. s. WATSON.

' MACHINE FOR GOMPRESSING PARTIALLY DRIED BRICK.

No. 24,343. Patented June 7, 1859;

/ Wineues:

2 SheetsSheet2.

W. s. WATSON. MACHINE FOR GOMPR BSSING PARTIALLY DRIED BRICK. No.24,343. Patented June '7, 1859..

Wanama- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. WATSON, OF MADISON, INDIANA.

BRICK-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,343, dated June 7, 1859.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. WATSON, of Madison, in the county ofJefferson and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Brick- Making Machines, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, refer ence being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification, and in Which Figure 1represents a top view or plan of a machine embracing my improvement, andFigs. 2, 3, 4c and 5 longitudinal vertical sections thereof showing theoperative parts in different relative positions. Y

My improvement relates to compressing bricks after they have been moldedand partially dried, and is not calculated or designed to mold brick orto subject it to pressure when in the green state.

The bricks, previously to their introduction in the machine representedin the accompanying drawings, maybe formed either by hand or machinery,as desired, subject to light or heavy pressure to reduce them to formand consistency. Pressure however applied to bricks when in their greenstate or in the act of molding them does not accomplish all that isdesired in regard to their form, appearance, and consistency. Saidbricks may be delivered from the molds or press in a moderately regularand solid condition, though their adhesive natureinsuch a state operatesagainst a close or solid finish to them on their exterior; but, beingsoft and pliant, they are liable to get out of shape in after handlingor action on them preparatory to becoming hard and dry, and the dryingprocess causes them to crack on their surfaces. I take the bricktherefore after it has been moldedand partially dried, when it has beendeprived of much of its moisture and stickiness and is of moderatelyregular form and certain solidity or consistency but not too solid orhard, and subject it to pressure as hereinafter described and whereby Isecure a more solid and regular shaped brick and one of closer and fineror smoother finish on its exterior. The brick is afterward dried, or itsdrying finished, in any suitable manner. To carry out this intermediateprocess or action on the brick after it has been molded and partiallydried, I necessarily employ in the machinery for the purpose certaindevices, such as plungers and so forth, well known to belong or asforming constituent parts to or in brick presses arranged to press anddischarge green brick automatically, but such devices have here apeculiar construction and action or relative arrangement given two brickreceiving chambers, a corresponding number of plungers, and so forth,but

, this disposition is optional and should be governed by the capacityrequired of the machine, the action being the same Whether there be one,two, or more plungers and other parts in immediate operating connectionwith the plungers, simultaneously at work in the one machine. Thefollowing description corresponds with the arrangement shown in theaccompanying drawings.

The frame (A) of the machine may be constructed in any suitable manner.Across this frame is arranged a driving shaft (B), to which revolvingmotion may be communicated by hand, horse, steam or other power, and onwhich is hung a fly wheel (C) to ease and make more regular the actionof the machine, and on which also is hung a pinion (D) working into aspur Wheel (E) of an actuating shaft (F) to increase power and give thenecessary movement to the operating parts hereinafter referred to. tershaft (F) carries a cam (G) arranged towork in a slot (a) of a slidingframe (H) and to operatethe latter in an intermittent reciprocatingmanner in direction of the length of the machine, in which traverse saidframe is suitably guided. To the forward end of this sliding frame (H)is attached so as to have intermittent reciprocating motion with it, adouble press box made up of chambers (I, J one chamber This lat-ooneither side of a stationary cross block is otherwise of open build soas to admit of being closed at intervals, top and bottom, by slides (b,6 having an intermittent reciprocating action, in, reverse directions,above and below andalternately to either side of the stationary block(K), also having, in addition to. suchindependent action,

This double press box is of close cona general motion at intervals, inthe same direction, and in concert with the double press box.

On the to of the double press box is a double chain ered feeding box (MM to facilitate entry and the proper disposition of the bricks to orover the intermittent reciprocating press box, and the top one of theslides last referred to, traversing at intervals to form a bottom toeither chamb er alternately of the feeding box, serves to hold the brickup in the feeding box till the press box is in a proper position andready to receiy e it; while the lower one 6 of these slides serves tohold the brick, after it has dropped from the feeding box, in properposition for. its encompassment by the press box (I or J) and in closeproximity to the stationary block (K) against which the brick is pressedby the plungers (L or 'L These specified independent and joint actionsof the double press box (I, J) with its double chambered feeding box (MM and intermediate top and bottom slides (b, 6 may be effected asfollows.

The sliding frame (H), which reciprocates at intervals the double pressbox with its feeding box, has connected with it a sliding cam plate (N)arranged to embrace the actuating shaft so as to permit of,'

at certain times, free motion along with the sliding frame (H) as wellas, at intervals, an independent intermittent reciprocating movement ofit along said sliding frame (H), on which said cam plate (N) may be hungand guided by pins (0) that fit through slots in the cam plate and serveas supports, guides, and stops thereto.

The cam (G), that actuates the sliding frame (H), serves as the driverto this cam plate (N) in its general movement with the sliding frame(H), while a cranked arm ((Z) attached to the actuating shaft (F)answers at intervals to give the cam plate (N) its independentreciprocating motion by means of the cam formations (e, (5 on said platewhen the revolving cranked arm (d) comes in contact-with saidformations. This cam plate (N) is connected, by means of a front crossbar (7) and suitable side strips,

with the lower intermediate slide (F) of the press box, by whicharrangement said slide reciprocates 'conjointly at times with the pressbox and at times independently of it.

The top intermediate slide (b) is also made to move at times conjointlywith the press box and its sliding frame (H), and at times independentlythereof and simultaneously 7 with but in reverse directions to thecorre-' sponding lowerslide (6 by means of a sliding brace (0) extendingfrom said top slide (1)) and hung by a slotted provision made in it on apin to the slidingframe (H), which pin serves as a support, stop,

cam plate (N) and brace plate and guide to the brace; and further bymeans of a pinion (P) hung on the sliding frame and arranged to gear onopposite sides of its periphery with the brace (O) and cam plate (N) tosecure reverse'actions to the two slides (11, L when movingindependently of the sliding frame (H). A beam or lever in gear with thebrace and cam plate might take the place and would be the equivalent ofthis pinion connection of said brace and cam plate.

From this description and inspection of the accompanying drawings, therelative actions of the press box and its slides, ashereinafterexplained, will be readily understood. v V

The plungers (L, L) of the pressing chambers (I, J) are connected by aframe (h) so that when the one plunger recedes from the stationary block(K) the other advances toward it. These plungers are thus madealternately to advance and recede, at intervals, by means of eccentrics(Q) on the actuating shaft (F) and eccentric rods (R) which connect withthe frame work of the plu'ngers. The relative periods at which theplungers act will be presently explained.

An endless apron conveyer (S), set in motion by pulleys (2', 7".) and abelt (l), or otherwise, may be arranged under the press box to receiveand carry off the bricks as they are delivered from the machine, or anyother desired conveying arrangement may be adopted.

Now, supposing the parts to be in the position represented in Fig. 2 ofthe drawing, the double press box (I, J) has then completed its backmovement and carried along with it the slides- (b, 12 from the positionthey are shown to occupy in Fig. 5. The one chamber (M of the feed boxis then, and-during the movement of the press box from its position inFig. 5 to that in Fig. 2, and it may be a little prior to as well whenthe press box remains stationary, inclosed at its bottomby the top slide(2)) and consequently in condition to receive a brick. .Arrived at thisposition (Fig. 2), the cranked arm ((1) is about to strike the camformation (e) of the cam plate (N), striking which and during thetraverse of the cranked arm to its position shown in Fig. 3, it causesthe (I to move the top and bottom slides (b, to their position shown inFig. 3, making the top slide, (6) withdraw to drop the brick fromthe'feedingchamber (M against one side of the stationary pressing block(K), and in so withdrawing causing said slide (1)) to pass over so as toform a bottom to the other feeding chamber (M) and put it in aconditionv to receive a brick; and simultaneously making the bottomslide (12 arrange itself in position to receive the brick droppedfromthe feeding chamber (M The press box then moves forward to the positionshown in Fig. 4:, the plungers (L, L also moving in like direction butat a slower ratio, and the top and bottom slides (b, 6 moving with thepress box. The one chamber (J) of the press box has then embraced thebrick which was dropped from the feeding chamber (M The press box thenremains stationary but the plungers continue their motion in the samedirection till the one plunger (L has exerted the necessary pressure onthe brick in the chamber (J), as shown in Fig. 5. During this latteraction of the plungers, the cranked arm (a), in moving from its positionin Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, has acted upon the second camformation (6 of the cam plate (N) and moved the slides (b, 6 so as todrop the brick from the second feeding chamber (M) and hold it on theopposite side of the stationary pressing block (K), and the one slide(2)), in thus moving, passing over again to the first named feedingchamber (M so as to put it again in condition to receive a brick. Afterthis, as shown in Fig. 5, the pressing box with its slides is then movedback to the position shown in Fig. 2, when the pressed brick drops fromthe right hand pressing chamber (J) on to the conveyer beneath, theplungers also moving in like direction to the pressing box in thusreturning to its original position as exhibited in Fig. 2. The likeaction is repeated alternately for each pressing chamber and plunger,the plungers continuing their motion after the pressing box has ceased,as already described.

Here I would observe that, as either pressing chamber (I or J) and itsplungers (L or L recede simultaneously from the stationary pressingblock (K), after the brick has received its pressure, the box or chamberas well as the plunger act-s to draw the brick and secure it fromsticking against said block, while the receding movement of the box orchamber being faster than that of the plunger the brick is soon leftunsupported and made to drop. By such arrangement too, the plungerclears the box or the box in overtaking the plunger clears itself of anymatter likely to collect and clog; while the top and bottom slides (72,6 serve by their action to secure cleanliness and freedom fromobstructing matter for reception of the brick. The feeding box with itschambers (M M might be dispensed with, but it greatly facilitates theplacing of the brick in right position for feed, especially whenentering the brick as the press box is in motion as when moving forinstance from its position in Fig. 3 to that occupied by it in Fig. 4.The brick too might be entered without the agency of the top slide (1)),but the utility of the slides (1) b needs no further comment. Suchmachine, while not adapted to molding and compressing brick in its greenstate, is very eflicient in compressing molded and partially driedbrickits intended purpose.

What I here claim, as new and useful, is:

1. The combination and arrangement with a stationary pressing block (K),of an intermittently reciprocating press box formed with one or morechambers (I, J), and provided with one or more plungers (L, L having ajoint motion with the press box and an independent movement in relationthereto essentially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the intermittently reciprocating press box, ofthe top and bottom holding slides (12, 19 or either of them, arranged tomove conjointly with the press box and independently of it substantiallyas specified.

3. Mounting the intermittently reciprocating press box with a feed boxhaving one or more chambers (M, M essentially as and for the purposeherein set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM S. WATSON.

Witnesses:

M. A. GAVITT, Vnn B. EDWARDS.

